Understandings of Nation & Nationalism
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Transcript Understandings of Nation & Nationalism
Social 20-1
Alex Colville: Church & Horse, 1964
Dale Auger: As though they were one, 2005
Perspectives about what it means to belong
to a nation, as well as our understandings of
nation, have:
Evolved over time
Continue to evolve
Unit 1 will explore a people’s relationship to
the land and cultural and linguistic
understandings of Nationalism.
Alwyn Morris, a Kahnawake
Mohawk, held up and eagle
feather while receiving his
medal at the 1984 Olympic
games. Of that moment
Morris said:
I raised the feather to share
that experience and identify
the fact that I was a Mohawk
person, and I was very proud
of that aspect; of being able to
share that experience of being
an Aboriginal person, share
the aspect of my grandfather
and honour that I wanted to
bestow on him. And certainly
from Canada’s perspective I
was representing the country.
Alwyn Morris: Gold 1000 m Kayak, 1984
If you were to hold up a symbol or make a
gesture during an awards ceremony, what
would it be?
Draw a picture of the symbol or describe the
gesture, and write a short explanation of why
it is meaningful to you.
◦ Share your response with others in the class
◦ What symbols and gestures did other students
share?
We each have our own answers to this
question.
We most likely define it as it relates to the
people or citizens of a country.
◦ Although this is true, there are many other
definitions as well.
A group of people who feel connections to one another in
some way. ~ a body of people that feel that they are a
nation.
Often intangible
◦ Therefore, nation can be viewed as something
found in the feelings and minds of people, an
internal connection to others.
One way to explore the main understandings
of nation is by looking at what creates
connections between individual members of a
nation; for example, their shared experiences
related to
Ethnic background and ancestry
Cultural values and beliefs
History
Language(s) and communication
Religious or spiritual beliefs
Geography
Politics and citizenship
Ethnicity
Relationship to
the Land
Politics &
Citizenship
Cultural Values
/ Beliefs
What is
a
Nation?
Geography
History
Language(s)
Religious /
Spiritual Beliefs
Summarize how the following four
people describe the term “Nation”:
•
•
•
•
Ernest Renan
Antonine Maillet
N.S. Rajaram
Douglas Coupland
In addition, answer the questions
that follow each quotation
The Ottawa River in the fall
Geography is a key component of how many Canadians identify themselves as a
nation
The Alberta Sky
Geography is a key component of how many Canadians identify themselves as a
nation
What is the difference?
◦ Nation relates to the feelings and minds of people
(internalization), …
◦ The concept of nation-state, is more concrete,
external concept.
◦ A Nation-State is a territory with internationally
recognized boundaries and a politically organized
body of people under a sovereign government
You are considered sovereign when recognized by
other states as having the right to govern themselves
independently.
Nations-states may or may not depend on
people’s linguistic, ethnic or cultural
connections. Citizens of a nation-state live in a
politically defined territory that operates with
common legal and moral beliefs. For example,
Canada
A belief in democratic government
The protection of rights and freedoms described in the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
A belief in the principles of a mixed economy
Belonging to a nation-state can provide a sense
of security as those who belong to the nationstate must abide by a common set of laws.
Is a way of expressing one’s sense of
belonging to a nation or a nation state.
◦ It can take many forms:
Patriotism: expressing love for one’s country
Ultra-nationalism
Supra-nationalism
How have you expressed patriotism for your
country?
Nation
Nation-State
Sovereign
Nationalism
Patriotism
Know the eight
ways in which
people identify
themselves as a
nation